Saluting Phil Steenkamp

Now one of those truly big guns, Phil Steenkamp, has passed on to a better world. With his loss our hold on that remarkable pre-diamond period of history slips away from our grasp.  So a quick recap. With the coming of Independence, many of the old hands in Mafikeng decided to call it a day – being unwilling or unable to make the change that would be involved in moving to Gaborone.  

What was involved was not just the change from white to black leadership but also a change in a way of life and habit.  Some decided that it was not for them whilst a few others, mostly younger and of a different mindset, welcomed the change and were dead set keen on helping get the new nation off to the best start that they were capable of giving it. Amongst that number was, of course Phil Steenkamp with others being George Winstanley, Brian Egner, Alec Campbell, Hugh Murray Hudson, and Quill Hermans all similarly motivated but coming from different backgrounds.